Vitamin D in Peru: best months for sun and a travel guide

The best months for vitamin D in Peru are September to May. In February, a full dose of about 1,000 IU takes around 6 minutes at midday for skin type III at age 30, with 8.8 usable sun hours a day. For a beach stay it is too cool from June to August.

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Peru month by month

Peru is rated at its median coastal place, for skin type III at age 30. Click a month for the details.

Month	Rating	Sun window	Peak UV	Full dose, age 30	Full dose, age 65	Afternoon high	Rainy days
January	Excellent	8.7 h	9.5	6 min	11 min	26°C	0/30
February	Excellent	8.8 h	9.6	6 min	10 min	28°C	3/30
March	Excellent	8.6 h	9.4	6 min	11 min	26°C	1/30
April	Excellent	8.2 h	8.5	6 min	12 min	28°C	0/30
May	Excellent	7.6 h	7.4	7 min	14 min	25°C	0/30
June	Too cold	7.4 h	7.1	8 min	14 min	19°C	0/30
July	Too cold	7.6 h	7.3	7 min	14 min	19°C	0/30
August	Too cold	8.0 h	8.1	7 min	12 min	19°C	0/30
September	Excellent	8.6 h	8.9	6 min	11 min	28°C	1/30
October	Excellent	8.5 h	9.0	6 min	11 min	28°C	1/30
November	Excellent	8.6 h	8.8	6 min	11 min	28°C	1/30
December	Excellent	9.1 h	9.5	6 min	11 min	27°C	0/30

Sun window is the number of hours a day with UV Index 2.5 or higher. Full dose is the minutes at midday for about 1,000 IU of vitamin D with a quarter of the body bare, for skin type III. Rainy days are days with at least 1 mm out of 30.

Travel guide: why go to Peru

Why go

Peru is better known for Machu Picchu, but its sunny north coast has warm surf beaches, and Lima has excellent food.

Best for

Foodies, history fans and surfers.

What to expect

The north coast is warm and sunny from December to April. Lima is mostly grey and cool from May to November. The Andes are cold at night and at altitude.

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Places in Peru

Each place has its own climate, so its best months can differ from the country as a whole.

Máncora best: Excellent

North coast surf and party town with warm sea.

Best for surfers, backpackers, young travellers

Best months January to December

Small beach town with the best beaches and great surf, turns into a real party town on weekends and holidays

Lima best: Excellent

A top food city on cliffs above the Pacific.

Best for foodies, culture travellers

Best months December to April · Avoid too cool from May to November

The capital and largest city of the country has a mix of modern and colonial architecture, and is the best place to enjoy…

Cusco (inland)

Former Inca capital, high in the Andes.

Best for history fans, trekkers

Best months none · Avoid too cool all year

Paracas best: Excellent

Desert coast with sea lions and the Ballestas Islands.

Best for wildlife lovers, families

Best months September to May · Avoid too cool from June to August

Machu Picchu (inland)

The Inca citadel in the clouds.

Best for history fans, trekkers, photographers

Best months none · Avoid too cool all year

This UNESCO World Heritage site is one of the most familiar symbols of the Incan Empire, and is one of the most famous and…

Some short descriptions come from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Questions about vitamin D in Peru

When is the best time to visit Peru for vitamin D?

The best months for vitamin D in Peru are September to May. In February, a full dose of about 1,000 IU takes around 6 minutes at midday for skin type III at age 30, with 8.8 usable sun hours a day.

Can you get vitamin D from the sun in Peru in June?

Yes, but slowly. In June a full dose takes about 8 minutes at midday for skin type III at age 30, with 7.4 usable hours a day.

How long do I need in the sun in Peru?

In February, the best month, about 6 minutes at midday with a quarter of the body bare, for skin type III at age 30; about 10 minutes at age 65. Darker skin needs longer and fair skin burns sooner, so keep sessions short. This is an estimate for planning, not medical advice.

Which months should I avoid in Peru?

For a beach stay, avoid the months when it is too cool from June to August.

What is the best place in Peru for vitamin D?

In February the strongest sun of the places we rate is around Paracas. Each place has its own rating, so open the place list to compare them.